The RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are warning again about the “taxpayer scam” as Canadians continue to be victimized almost daily.
Pushy scammers impersonate CRA employees and demand either personal information or payment for a made-up fee or back taxes. They will threaten arrest – or worse – if the fee is not paid immediately. Scammers also alter parts of their story in the hopes of victimizing more Canadians. In the latest variation, scammers ask that the payment be made via iTunes cards.
“To date in 2016, almost two million dollars has been reported lost by 590 individuals,” says Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean, who leads the RCMP’s Federal Policing Special Services. “And if only 5 percent of victims report their losses, we can assume that the actual total amount lost to this scam is much, much higher.”
The RCMP and CRA remind Canadians to follow several steps to ensure their personal information remains confidential and to avoid being duped by these scammers.
“The CRA will never request prepaid cards, ask for information about your passport, health card or driver’s licence, or leave personal information on your answering machine,” says the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue. “Before taking any action, taxpayers should always verify their tax account by checking My Account via the secure CRA portal or by contacting the CRA at 1 800 959-8281. This information, including examples of real scam telephone calls and e-mails, can be easily found on the CRA website.”
If you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information in error, contact your local police service and your financial institution.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) – a partnership between the RCMP, the Competition Bureau and the Ontario Provincial Police – is Canada’s central repository for data, intelligence and resource material on mass marketing fraud. Victims are encouraged to report any scam to the CAFC, either online or by phone toll-free at 1-888-495-8501.
